Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-06-05
nov LONG, OH ! lord !
Before the Bold Bad Bandit viii
Cease RObbing Texas Railroad
Trains for a Living?
4 Texas snd Pacific Passenger Train
Held Up and Pillaged Within Eight
Miles OF Fort Worth,
Express Company, but Little From the
nfafis-After Them with BIoodhounds.

I
Worth at $40 p. m, was halted at Brushy
creek, eight miles west of Fort Worth
about 7:45 O'Clock yesterday afternoon
oy five highwaymen. The villains then
proceeded with the cut and dried pro-
gTamme with which the public is pretty
familiar. The train had left the little
station of Benbrook some two miles be-
hind, and was speeding along in the dusk
of The day with full load OF passengers,
none dreaming that within so short a
distance of the great North Texas me-
tropoiis another of these disgraceful af-
fairs that have stained the fair name OF
the state YVES about to happen. AS the
engine and tender passed over the tres
tie work across the creek men
! toned, several men appeared in front
waving algs vigorously, in obedience to
which signals, John Baker, the engineer,
! speedily brought his train to halt. Be-
fore he CCmprehended The trick, couple
Of big reVolvers were at his head and he
was threatened with instant death if he
dared 10 move a foot. A few minutes
later ard Conductor Garrett was ap-
prised OF the situation.
THE EXPRESS ROBBED.
| The messenger OF the Pacific Express
/ Company, The. Marsh, was busy making
I up his packages preparatory 80 trsnsiet-
/ ring OF Fort Worth. He is 8 new man
aud, having no idea of what the halt was
| for, took no precautions about
! closing up. But ne was dts-
tined to rude interruption.
/ Before his startled vision appeared toll,
/ fierce locking fellow, his face BACKED
ana red handkerchief tied over the
| lower part C. il. "Throw up your hands"
wassthe order. Marsh knew resistance
was useless, and did as he was ordered.
! The fellow then helped himself to all
there vas in sight, and departed with ais
/ booty.
It is learned from good authority that
/ the amount of the haul was $3.50. From
the mail car, entered later, only three
registered letters were obtained-none of
them for Fort Worth, though a visit to
/ the Office here later revealed the
ftct that six fat packages were
consigned TO this point. The rob-
/ bers were simply outwitted by Postal
| Clerk Griffin as is elsewhere detailed
| While all this was going on, the con-
ductor was passing through the coaches
| telling the startled passengers what was
up, and recommending that they seCrete
their veluables. The order was obeyed
with universal rapidity. Among the'pas-
selgers was NJ. A. C. Wilmeth, a sur
veyor of Scurry county, en- route to
Austin, from whom a GAZETTE man
CLEANED the following version:
THE SURVEYORS STORY.
AS the train neaTed the creek after leav-
/ ing Benbrook it slowly came TO halt.
was standing outside in company with
Brakeman Stell. When it fully stopped
we both stepped off the train, and seeing
some men in front walked forward t.
wards the bridge TO reconnoiter, thinking,
from the actions of the men ahead, that
the late rains had undermined the bridge
and it was dangerous to cross. They
were the robbers and were giving orders
to the engineer. The first diStinC order
l heard was 20 myself and brakeman to
get inside We disobeyed and walked on.
Again was received the same order. The
train moving up even with me l stepped
back on, as did my companion, who WAS
some distance in front. | was still ig-
nOrant of design Of robbery and leaned
forward from the steps to look ahead
when l was again ordered in, and q sec
ond after the order was emphasized with
pistol shot. | needed no further ad-
vice. | went in and announced we were
being robbed. The passengers did notseem
to think SO, as they made no preparations
toward seCreting their effects. In q min
ute or so the conductor passed through
the car and informed US that we rad bet
ter hide our effects, as the train was being
robbed. At this announcement every one
began to search for hiding places. The
sight was ludicrous in the extreme.
Every odd place was utilized. Some four
Tor five deposited in the coal box, some in
the stove, some in their shoes and boots
and some turned over their valuables to
their wives, sweethe2rts ana children.
The closet had an unusual crowd of Wis
itors, and we Judge there was several
thousand dollars secreted within its
walls. Every one seemed, though, to
save out little to contribute to the
knights. Our train then moved up a car
or SO and made another short stop OF
about five minutes and we moved on our
Journey. The robbers were standing
from fifteen to twenty-five steps from the
train with drawn revolvers as We passed,
holding their ill-got gains in their hands.
HOW THEY LOOKED.
There were five in all, all of medium
sheight, and all save one afoot. The
horseman rode light iron gray horse,
and seemed to be only on watch. He
rode off just before the train started in a
northwestern direction. After the rob-
berry the others followed in his direction.
The passengers thanked them vocifer-
ouslY for not roobing them, and when We
were fully aware that We were let loose
they were given rousing cheer. No re-
sistsnce was made by any one III the pas
senger coaches. There was one officer
the train WAC offered 10 fight if he
could get any aid. No arms seemed to be
on the train, and no resistance of any
kind was offered.
O1e man with small pistol fred four
or five shots after re got half mile from
them.
TOLD BY OTHER PASSENGERS.
Among the passengers were Messrs.
NJ. K. Batemsn, P. T. Coombs, W. L.
Logan, and Rev. J. Mcknight of Fort
Worth. The two first with Mr.. W. A,
Rumbold and S. K. Williamson of St.
Louis were g merry qusrtette seated
together. Said Mr.. Coomos: "We had
no idea of what was the matter.
and everybody in the coach laughed, ct
what Was deemed chestnut. Pretty
soon the conductor came through warn
ing us TO eide our money and jewelry;
that the train was being held up by rob-
bers, but thai If we stayed quietly inside
they would probably not modest the
passengers, We obeyed religi-